Pinoy pride in the kitchens of the world’s elite

In the White House, I would assume that the President of the United States of America would now have a taste of our own local food: lumpia, kare-kare, adobo. Why? The kitchen boss of the White House is a Filipino.

Filipinos all over the world salute the first woman executive chef of the White House, Cristeta Comerford. It is not everyday that you get to cook for a President but for the first woman executive chef of the White House, she will cook daily for the Bushes.

It is said that the Bush family loves barbecues, peanut butter and honey sandwiches and cheese burgers. Doesn’t the President also love pretzels that he almost choked on it? I am not sure if Cristeta Comerford knows how to cook – isaw, adidas, kwek-kwek, – street food familiar to everyone. The most powerful man in the world, who I hear is a bit adventurous when it comes to food, might just discover the magical taste of adidas.

As executive chef, Comerford will whip up menus and dishes for the Bushes’ state dinners, social events, receptions and official luncheons as well as their personal menus.

Another Filipino chef making a name for himself among the rich in America is Ron Bilaro, who, as a chef, was flown in by Oprah Winfrey to cook for her birthday celebration in Montecito, California. Ron is personal chef to some of Chicago’s rich families. He has also cooked for some of Hollywood’s elite and most powerful personages.

"Personal cheffing is one of the most in-demand professions in the US," says Ron. "You should be sensitive to your clients’ needs and must be ready to change the menu or dinner plan in a moment’s notice."

As a personal chef, Ron prepares a set menu before he goes marketing but would sometimes change the menu for a number of reasons.

"I will look for fresher ingredients but sometimes the ingredients are not available. I use organic ingredients," he says. Ron prefers to cook healthy with emphasis on low carbohydrates, non-fat and low-calorie food.

Ron finished a degree at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, and graduated on top of his class. He chose the school because he was impressed with the facilities and he knew that he would be successful there. Besides, "Bill Mustari, my admissions representative, was very informative and he answered all my questions," he states.

Ron had his first cooking experience in his own family. "I remember cooking rice properly using a kaldero. I was cooking it by measuring the water with my hands."

Ron’s work as a personal chef started even before he graduated.

"A client called the school and wanted a chef who could cook a ‘spa cuisine’ type of food. I was the first student who was interviewed and was hired immediately. My first job was to cook for a sit-down dinner for 12 people. Without the chefs at school, I am not sure I would have been able to do it," he points out.

Ron had always wanted to be a chef. "As a child, my mother was a working mom. She would call me home and would ask me to start making dinner preparations. And as I grew up, people started appreciating my food and I liked it that I made people happy with my cooking. I really enjoyed their compliments."

Unlike a restaurant chef, Ron says that being a personal chef, "you need to be more accommodating. You must also be versatile enough to orchestrate a staff if the party is bigger than you expected it to be."

Ron was featured in a number of American publications and his name was mentioned in Chef Art Smith’s book, Kitchen Life as his sous chef. He will work on his own recipe/entertainment book someday. I had Ron on Private Conversations with Boy Abunda (Thursdays at 6 p.m. on ANC) with the help of our friend Marni Ocampo a few months back.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of Filipinos who are making names for themselves. In entertainment, Lani Misalucha enjoys top billing at a hotel in Las Vegas. Lea Salonga once ruled Broadway and the West End. Giovanni Pico, who was in town recently, is making waves in the television show ER, and so are Manny Pacquiao, Brian Viloria and Rey Bautista in sports who brought home world boxing titles.

Filipino world domination is happening and it is starting in the kitchen in America.

Rizza Navales — The Lady is a Champ

Rizza Navales, Champion of the World in the recent World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) held in Hollywood, California, will have her first solo concert dubbed Rizza Navales-The Lady is a Champ at the RCBC Plaza in Makati tomorrow.

Rizza, who emerged the Champion of the World in the Female Singing Division, represented the Philippines along with Jed Madela. The 27-year-old singer bagged five gold medals and a silver medal in the five categories she competed in at WCOPA.

Rizza Navales-The Lady is a Champ produced by David So features as special guests Jed Madela and Ladine Roxas, 2001 winner in the Voice of Asia Competition in Kazakhstan.